Overhead crossing signal



July 24, 1934. J. B. sTRAuss Y 1,967,380.'

OVERHEAD CROS S I NG S I GNAL Filedct. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l r mummmmmm JOSEPH SZ'EAVJS,

A TTORNEY July 24, 1934. J, B STRAUSS 1,.c)67,:.:80

OVERHEAD CROS S ING- SIGNAL Filed Oct. 20, 1931 2 Shee'cs-Sheetv 2 E'LICEH'EJ.

la J

IN VEN TOR.

BY .M

lATTORNEY JOSEPH B. STR/5055.

patented July 24, A1934 UNI-TED; STATES PATENT *i orifice 1,967,380 N OVERHEAD CROSSING SIGNAL Joseph B. Strauss,V San Francisco, Calif. Application October 20, 1931, Serial No. 569,956

3 Claims.

VThis invention relates to improvements in street crossings and has particular reference to an overpass combined with a `traflic signal arrangement.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the Ltraflic signal may bevvisibly displayed, and in` such a manner that it will be impossible for a vperson not to observe its actuation;A i i Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. l is a cross section of a highway having my cross-over and signal arrangement, shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same as indicated by the section line 2 2 in Figure 1,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing one possible location of a pass-over where two streets intersect,

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing a further arrangement of my cross-over where a single street enters a highway, and

Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the overhead crossing signals.

It is a well-known fact that a large number of street accidents occur at crossings, and for this reason trailic signals have been installed at many crossings in order toV control the flow of trahie and to prevent accidents. However, these trailic 35 signals are of such a nature that they are exceedingly hard to see. They have been placed either high above the highway, high upon the poles at the sides of the highways, and in central towers, with the result that there is a great nl confusion on the part of the driver, ldue to the the vehicle traffic, and at the same time the drivers of vehicles may be properly warned as to the right-of-way, in such a manner that no doubt will be left in their minds. It is a well accepted practice to employ red lights to indi- ,mj cate the condition of stopping, a green light to indicate a clear right-of-way and a yellow light is sometimes used to indicate caution. Applicant, through his construction, is enabled to i employ these standard colors but in a novel manner. as will be hereinafter seen.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is Shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 indicate pylons constructed on opposite sides of a highway, which pylons are connected by anover-head crossing 7. VThis over-head crossingis made up of the usual truss members, which form no part of this invention. The walk of this over-head crossing `is preferably constructed of glass, whereby illuminating means 9, positioned therebeneath, will serve to illuminate the surface of the walk. Similar glass plates are shown at 11, with the result that the same illuminating means 9 will shine downwardly toward the highway. Secured to the sides of the over-head crossing is a series of spaced ornamental glass members 12, which serve to house a lplurality of illuminating means 13, 14 and 16. These illuminating means may be neon tubes or similar lights capable of giving a considerable glow, and for a matter of discussion we will consider the illuminating means 13 as colored red, the illuminating means 14 as colored'yellow and the illuminating means 16 as colored green. The illuminating means 9 may also consist of colored neon tubes, the same being red, yellow, and green.

Constructed within the pylons 5 and 6 are provided chambers as indicated at 17 and 18.

These chambers provide space for various public utilities, such as police stations, telephone booths, etc.

It will thus be seen that through this construction when all of the red lights are illuminated, due to their length they will be visible from a long distance, that is, as the driver of a vehicle approaches the crossing. At the same time the red light 9 will cast a' curtain of red light downwardly from the underside of the over-head crossing and will illuminate the highway therebeneath, with the result that virtually a red curtain of light will extend across the street and therefore there will be no excuse for the driver of the vehicle to pass through this curtain of light. As soon as the traiiic signal changes the curtain of light will change from red to yellow or green, as the case may be, and at the same time the illuminating means 14 and 'loo 16* will be illuminated with a similar color and f f be visible from a great distance.

It will Afurther be seen that I have combined a cross-over and traflic signal arrangement in such a manner that the pedestrians, as well as the highway traffic may be eectively handled,

and with an element of safety far greater than has been possible heretofore.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. c

Having thus described my invention, I claimt- 1. A combined street crossing and trairic signaling device, including pylons arranged on opposite sides of the street and connected together by means of an overhead structure equipped with a pedestrian walk, said walk embodying a transparent tread surface and side* walls, spaced vari-colored illuminating means supported onl the said side walls and colored illuminating means supported by the transparent walk in a manner to shine therethrough and corresponding in color to said spaced side wall illuminating means whereby a colored signal curta n of light is directed downward upon the street and upwardly through said walk and a correspondingly colored signal light is displayed by said illuminating means from the walls of the structure.

2. A combined street crossing and traiiic signaling device, including spaced pylons and a connecting overhead structure having an illuminated walk, said walk embodying transparent tread and ceiling sections and side walls, spaced Vari-colored illuminating means carried by said side walls and facing vehicular traflic in both directions, and vari-colored illuminating means, corresponding to the illuminating means carried by said side walls, between said tread and ceiling sections and adapted to shine therethrough, whereby a curtain of light may be directed downwardly upon the roadway and upwardly through the walkway and a like colored traffic signal may be displayed from the illuminating means carried by the side walls of said ico 

